A year ago...

Trying to get my family to become racing fans was all I wanted to accomplish in May of 2013.  School was out, it was Memorial Day Weekend and we had the Meridian.  So I convinced Keith that him and the kids really needed to go with me to Charlotte, N.C. and see the Coca-Cola 600.  Isn't that what is supposed to happen when you own a motorhome and you have a long weekend in which to take it somewhere?  So I made all the plans, got the camping sight reserved, bought the tickets and made a schedule for us to have a great weekend.  When we first got to Charlotte and could see the track I was barely able to contain my excitement.  Not sure what everyone else was thinking, but I wasn't seeing the same excitement in them that I had hoped for.
We get to the campground (or should I say area where they have you park your motorhome) and someone meets us and tells us to follow them in the golf cart they are driving and they will show us to our spot.  As we get near the assigned spot, I am noticing how close all the other motorhomes, 5th wheels, and travel trailers are parked.  This isn't looking like pictures I have seen.  Somehow or another we are able to pull into the spot, but I think that is just about all we are able to do.  How we got the slides out I'm still not sure.  They had us packed in there so tight that with our awning extended it almost touched the backside of the motorhome parked next to us.  We are actually boxed in.  So close that if we wanted to set out our lawn chairs our view would be of the drain hose from the motorhome beside us and their dog running all around inside their motorhome barking the entire time we were outside.  This is not how I planned it.  So we ended setting up "camp" and got comfortable inside.
I am eger to go to the track and finally everyone is ready to go too.  We are in walking distance to the track, and besides, we don't have a tow vehicle yet so anything we do will have to be in walking distance.  Tonight we will watch qualifying, and I upgraded our tickets so that we can watch it from up inside the clubhouse.

sitting in the clubhouse

Our view from inside the clubhouse

having dinner while watching qualifying

The next day we will go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  We have to walk to the drag strip to meet up with the shuttle that will take us to the HOF.  While walking there we walk right by Tom Johnson Camping Center.  Seeing all the trailers and motorhomes parked outside gave Keith and I an idea of something to do, later.  Go look.  So off to the HOF we go.  On the way the driver says we are going to take a detour.  It wasn't on the schedule but he was sure we would enjoy it.  AND WE DID!  The next thing I know we are pulling in to the art gallery of Sam Bass.  Sam Bass is the first officially licensed artist of NASCAR.  Today Bobby Allison is a guest of Sam's and they will have a special one on one interview with each other at the art studio.  What a treat!!

Bobby Allison and Sam Bass

Bobby Allison

So about an hour later after hearing Bobby talk about how he got started in racing and story after story and learning about Sam and his artistry, we load up the shuttle and head to the HOF.  

NASCAR Hall of Fame

Standing on 33 degree banking "Talladega"

Joseph and the simulator

The Hall of Fame was a great place to learn of the history of NASCAR.  I could have stayed there all day, but besides my family ready to go, the shuttle wasn't going to wait on me.  So back to the drop off place and back to the motorhome.  The next morning the kids were sleeping in late so Keith and I decided to walk over to that Tom Johnson Camping Center to look at the motorhomes in their lot.  What better way to kill time than that?  Nothing was going on at the track, yet.  So off we went, "just to take a look."  As you  read in the previous blog "How we Acquired the Aspire" the rest is history.

Raceday finally arrives, or at least that is how my family looks at it, and it's time to go to the track.  I'm glad I got us tickets where we would be sitting under the upper deck so that there would be shade on us.  We are sitting there watching all that goes on before the race starts.  

in our seats

view from our seats looking across the track

the "flyover"

They have the introductions of drivers, the singing of the National Anthem and a salute to the troops.

Eagle

"Boogity Boogity Boogity"

start of the race

racing into the nighttime

Winner Winner 29 Kevin Harvick

It was a long race, the longest of the year but I think they had a good time.  Race fans?  That I'm not so sure of, but the one thing I do know is that they are MY FANS and they all love to see me get excited to go racing and what more can I ask for?  

So this all happened one year ago, May 24, 25th and 26, 2013.